Xia Nuo and Fang You, though both living in the same community, had very different types of homes. Fang You's family had a more common three-bedroom, one-living room, one-kitchen, and one-bathroom layout, whereas Xia Nuo's family resided in a duplex atop the community.
The duplex's most notable feature was its two-floor structure, with an internal staircase connecting the two levels. The first floor housed the living room, master bedroom, Xia Nuo's own room, a study, an open-plan kitchen, dining area, and a restroom.
The second floor, being the top space, had half of the area as a semi-open terrace where Lin Yi had planted a variety of flowers and plants. In addition, there was a storage room and a music room.
This music room had once belonged to Xia Anyang and was a remnant of his former pursuit of a band dream.
Even though he had decided to go back to his hometown to take over the family business, Lin Yi still encouraged him to cultivate it as a hobby in his free time.
The family business that Xia Anyang took over was busier than he had imagined, and after Lin Yi became pregnant with little Xia Nuo, the sense of family responsibility far outweighed his personal dreams. Hence, the music room was barely used—
Ever since Fang You's parents believed their son was a musical prodigy, Xia Anyang also started to think his own child might inherit his musical dream.
He guided Xia Nuo to start exploring music, and the music room was put to use once again.
When Xia Anyang brought the two kids back home, he felt complex emotions looking at the neighbor's child who was close with his daughter.
He always felt that Fang You was different from other kids, seemingly always deep in thought.
Clearly just a young child, yet Fang You gave off a very mature vibe.
How can someone possess both old and young traits at the same time?
"Mom, I'm back!"
Xia Nuo entered the house, calling out to Lin Yi, and changed into her own little cotton shoes at the entrance.
"You You, change your shoes. Here are yours," she said, handing over a pair of new shoes adorned with a little bear pattern to Fang You, and explained, "I bought these with mom and dad at the mall yesterday. From now on, they're for you to wear."
"They're the same style as your cotton shoes, right? Yours have that bunny on them..."
"Right, we're best friends, so of course, we should wear best friend style shoes!" Xia Nuo jumped around excitedly.
At this moment, Lin Yi's voice came from the kitchen: "Wash your hands when you come back. Mom bought lots of cherries, you guys have some fruit before you practice the show."
"Okay—"
After washing his hands, Fang You took a bowl full of cherries from Lin Yi's hands, and Lin Yi glanced at him, calling him over and crouched down to check his clothes.
"You You, is the button on your collar missing?"
"Ah, I didn't notice..."
"Come, just wait a sec, let me sew it on for you, it'll be quick."
Lin Yi had always been very caring towards Fang You, patiently sewing on his button while Xia Nuo also came over after washing her hands.
"Mom, where are the cherries?"
"It's cherries."
Xia Nuo took a cherry from the bowl and ate it.
"Mmm, tasty, tasty. You You, try some too."
Xia Nuo didn't wait for Fang You to reach out and stuffed a cherry into his mouth.
[Xia Anyang feels you're fitting in a bit too well, Emotional Energy +6]
...
"..."
"Hahaha, You You, I scared you, didn't I!" Xia Nuo said, sitting atop Fang You, giggling.
Fang You frowned, "Which eye of yours saw me getting scared?"
Xia Nuo then made an OK sign with her hand and circled it over each of her eyes:
"Look, left eye, and the right eye too!"
...
How could one get angry at her?
Xia Nuo said as she sat down squarely on Fang You's lap.
Xia Nuo turned her head to look at Fang You and pointed at the drumsticks on the drum.
"Can you teach me to play the drum set, You You?"
"Sure, you hold it like this—"
"Can't I hold it this way?"
Xia Nuo held the drumsticks between her thumb and forefinger, "What would happen if I hold them like this, huh?"
"Can you hold them steady...?"
"It seems not... eh, eh eh!"
Xia Nuo almost couldn't grip the drumsticks, and Fang You immediately reached out to hold her hand, stabilizing the drumsticks.
A 3-year-old child always has a bit of rebellion in them.
Fang You took Xia Nuo by the hand, teaching her and playing the drum set together.
But she was not a natural-born drummer like Fang You, and it didn't take long before she started to feel the strain.
She yawned a big yawn, her eyes watering with sleepiness.
"Are you tired, do you want to rest?"
"No... I don't want to sleep."
Xia Nuo lay in Fang You's arms, raising her hands towards the sky and making grasping gestures.
She spread out her tiny hands, swinging them along with her body.
"Wait, wait, wait—wait, wait, wait..."
At first, Fang You thought Xia Nuo was just fooling around, but as her movements became more and more regular, the expression on his face gradually shifted to one of astonishment—
No, the rhythm of this body movement... it's exactly like the intro melody of "Guardian of the Flowers."
This syncs perfectly with my drumbeats!
Fang You slowly realized that Xia Nuo might just be a rebellious little genius.
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